OPUWO: The Opuwo Town Council has issued a warning to livestock owners to maintain suitable enclosures to keep their livestock from roaming within the town’s boundaries.

Extensive amounts of livestock, including goats, sheep, cattle, and pigs, are currently being kept within the town’s boundaries, with some being brought in from neighbouring villages.

The growth in the animal population poses unique challenges, with the town council’s technical director, Karui Rikambura, describing the situation as problematic and ‘backward.’

Rikambura noted in a recent interview with Nampa that the situation is concerning since it hinders development at the town and narrows its scope to village level.

He said one of the contributing factors is the region’s 10-year drought, which has forced farmers to migrate to towns in search of greener pastures and water for their remaining animals.

Despite the council’s concerted efforts, Rikambura stated that keeping animals out of the town boundaries is nearly impossible since Opuw
o, like other northern towns, is located in common lands with no fencing to keep the animals at bay.

Rikambura also voiced his discontent with the town council’s excessive expenditure on maintaining the impounded animals, saying the penalty for confiscating the livestock is insufficient to compensate for the monies set aside to care for them.

‘The council frequently loses thousands of dollars in holding these animals,’ Rikambura said.

In some cases, the council spends at least N.dollars 2 000 per cow only for the owner to pay less than N.dollars 200 in detention fees.

The transgressor’s charge under the pound regulations of the Local Authorities Act is N.dollars 1.00 per animal per day for all animals except for sheep and goats, and N.dollars 5.00 per sheep or goat per day.

Grazing costs for all animals except sheep and goats are set at N.dollars 4.50 per animal per day, and N.dollars 2.30 per sheep or goat per day.

Feeding costs for all animals except sheep and goats are N.dollars 8.25 per animal per d
ay, with goats and sheep being charged at N.dollars 2.50.

The council has said it cannot be held liable for any missing, dead or sick animals, or any damage to gardens or crops by animals kept withing town boundaries.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Over the last six months, police have arrested at least 11 people in relation to the buying and selling of fake certificates.

This according to Umalusi CEO, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, who was speaking during a media briefing on Monday.

‘Since the [National Senior Certificate exams] State of Readiness Media Briefing held on 13 October 2023 during which we, amongst others, informed the public about the safeguards implemented to ensure the authenticity and credibility of Umalusi certificates, eleven suspects have been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on different dates.

‘The first two suspects were arrested in Burgersfort in Limpopo on 27 October, one suspect was arrested in Pretoria in November, the next three were arrested on 20 November, and the last five were nabbed on 13 December 2023 again in Burgersfort, Limpopo,’ he said.

Furthermore, a Department of Higher Education and Training official is facing a charge of corruption for issuing a diploma certificate in exchange for cash.

‘Police inve
stigations are ongoing and Umalusi will continue to work closely with the law enforcement agencies in whatever way possible to ensure that the scammers or fraudsters are made to face the full might of the law,’ Rakometsi said.

He asserted that the education quality assurance body ‘has got no business with fake certificates’ and is mandated to issue authentic certificates to qualifying candidates.

‘Fake certificates are issued by scammers or fraudsters who are not employees of Umalusi.

‘We advise all employers both in the public and private sectors to consider verifying their current and future employees’ qualifications through the verification agencies whose contact details are available on the website of Umalusi (www.umalusi.org.za).

‘On the landing page, you simply click on the Certification and Verification icon,’ Rakometsi said.

Source: South African Government News Agency